Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold By "F. Harald Williams"[i.e. F. W. O. Ward]. First Edition |
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OLD MEG. |
 | Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold |  |
537
OLD MEG.
Many call her the “Granny”
And think her a witch
In their hearts, and uncanny
And cold is her scritch—
When she's crossed or the liquor has fuddled her brains,
And her toothless gums tattle
And bones seem to rattle
From dolorous rust like a skeleton's chains;
She is hungry and haggard, Old Meg,
And she lurches
With doubtful researches,
On one wooden leg.
And think her a witch
In their hearts, and uncanny
And cold is her scritch—
When she's crossed or the liquor has fuddled her brains,
And her toothless gums tattle
And bones seem to rattle
From dolorous rust like a skeleton's chains;
She is hungry and haggard, Old Meg,
And she lurches
With doubtful researches,
On one wooden leg.
You may see her on crutches
That poke into drains,
And explore rabbit hutches
Regardless of stains;
Ah, she rakes up the dung heap and scatters the dust,
Or the refuse of brewers
And garbage of sewers,
For the maggoty offal and filthiest crust;
For she cannot be dainty, Old Meg,
And goes lonely
Through life, and is only
A scavenger's peg.
That poke into drains,
And explore rabbit hutches
Regardless of stains;
Ah, she rakes up the dung heap and scatters the dust,
Or the refuse of brewers
And garbage of sewers,
For the maggoty offal and filthiest crust;
For she cannot be dainty, Old Meg,
And goes lonely
Through life, and is only
A scavenger's peg.
Yes, a peg for the hanging
Of rubbish and tins,
And old bottles whose clanging
Performs on her shins;
Over each bushy eyebrow lies beetling a mole;
She is tenth in one attic,
And drags her rheumatic
Pinched frame every night to that leperous hole;
She appears badly cobbled (Old Meg)
Of odd fractions,
And all her strange actions
Agree but to beg.
Of rubbish and tins,
And old bottles whose clanging
Performs on her shins;
Over each bushy eyebrow lies beetling a mole;
She is tenth in one attic,
And drags her rheumatic
Pinched frame every night to that leperous hole;
She appears badly cobbled (Old Meg)
Of odd fractions,
And all her strange actions
Agree but to beg.
538
And I doubt if a sinner
Was ever more sunk
And as mouldy or thinner
Or happier drunk;
What she eats must be little, she never buys bread,
And is pleased just with pickings
Of pavements and lickings
Of bones from which sensible dogs turn their head;
She's a desperate drinker, Old Meg,
For her fancies
And highest romances
Transcend not the keg.
Was ever more sunk
And as mouldy or thinner
Or happier drunk;
What she eats must be little, she never buys bread,
And is pleased just with pickings
Of pavements and lickings
Of bones from which sensible dogs turn their head;
She's a desperate drinker, Old Meg,
For her fancies
And highest romances
Transcend not the keg.
| Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold | |